Fibromyalgia

Carolina Medical Center

Internists located in Walterboro, SC

Nearly four million women and men in the United States suffer from the pain associated with fibromyalgia. Similar to arthritis, fibromyalgia affects mostly middle-aged women and doesn’t have a cure. To get help managing your fibromyalgia, call or make an appointment online today with one of the doctors at Carolina Medical Center in Walterboro, South Carolina.

Fibromyalgia Q & A

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a collection of seemingly related symptoms that have no identified cause. Primarily associated with widespread pain, and accompanied by isolated tender spots and other symptoms, fibromyalgia is a chronic condition. The symptoms of fibromyalgia typically come and go.

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

Besides pain in your muscles, joints, and other soft tissues and isolated sore areas, the symptoms of fibromyalgia include:

Sleep issues and fatigue

Morning stiffness

Headaches

Painful menstrual periods

Tingling and numbness in hands and feet

Foggy brain

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

The most common method of diagnosing fibromyalgia is to check 18 points on your body by pressing firmly to see how many are painful. If you feel pain in at least five spots, and you’ve suffered from widespread aches with no medical cause for longer than three months, you could receive a fibromyalgia diagnosis.

Dr. Michael Blubaugh and Dr. Sanjay Kumar also follow the most up-to-date guidelines. This newer checklist permits a fibromyalgia diagnosis if the doctors can’t find an underlying medical cause for the widespread pain you’ve suffered with for more than three months.

Blood tests can rule out other, similar conditions, including thyroid issues and infectious diseases.

How is fibromyalgia treated?

There’s no cure for fibromyalgia, so the medical care you receive manages the syndrome. Your treatment plan for fibromyalgia depends on several factors, including:

Age

Medical history

Extent of the condition

Tolerance of medications, procedures, and therapies

Treatment for fibromyalgia can involve drug-free options like lifestyle changes or medications.

They might also suggest trying cognitive-behavioral therapy. For this treatment, mental health professionals recommend methods to help you filter out negative thoughts, recognize your triggers, and set limits to keep your symptoms in check.